May 12, 2009, 10:37 AM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: March 15, 2005
Location: Central Connecticut
Posts: 3,166
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After July 1st, 2009, Colt's future existence is uncertain since that's when their gov't. contract to produce the M4 expires, and their entire [civilian] handgun production has been significantly downsized over the years.
Quote:
...Colt continues production of classic designs such as the SAA, sold in both the limited collector's market and through more traditional channels. However, it survives primarily on the manufacturing of a variety of civilian and military weapons. The most popular of these are various AR-15 Carbines, a weapon category that it invented and helped develop over nearly 30 years since acquiring the AR-15 design. The AR-15 Carbine derivatives, and weapons like them have proved so popular that a large amount of competition has arisen in the area. As with AR-15 rifles, the original Colt designs and their derivatives are heavily copied, and as a result they face much competition from other manufacturers, including Springfield Armory, Kimber Manufacturing, and US Fire Arms....
However, Colt remains the sole source for M4 carbines for the US military. Under their license agreement with Colt, the US military cannot legally award second-source production contracts for the M4 until July 1, 2009.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colt's_...turing_Company
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